Facility Dogs

* The application has several phases and includes requests for a video and an interview.

Facility dogs are specially trained to work with a professional in the fields of education, counseling, medicine, rehabilitation, retirement or other specialty agencies.

Facility dogs must complete and pass the health and temperament testing just like guide and service dogs. The facility dog will work many hours on obedience, mostly off lead, and will work with a variety of handlers. The dog must be calm, friendly and easily controlled by voice commands. The dogs are trained on how to approach and behave with children, adults, elderly and people in wheelchairs or with other forms of mobility issues.

Facility dogs adhere to the same high training standards as service dogs. They may retrieve items, carry objects, tug doors and clothing and manipulate light switches and buttons. When these dogs work in a school setting, they can model appropriate behavior, teach positive interaction, interrupt hyperactivity and perform many other tasks. Dogs provide non-judgmental companionship, stimulation and physical affection to those persons in an environment or situation that is not able to meet that person’s needs.

Facility dogs return home with their handler/owner at the end of the day. The facility dog does not have public access, like guide and service dogs, but their training also includes how to behave around food, other animals, in stores and large crowds.

People who receive facility dogs will attend team training on the KSDS campus in Washington, Kansas for five full days. Students will stay in the apartments on campus provided by KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc. with the help of funding from Kansas Lions Clubs. The majority of meals are also provided by Kansas Lions Clubs and other civic organizations and volunteers.

If you have any questions about applying for a dog, contact Letha Nelson, Client Services at 785-325-2256 ext 115 or lnelson@ksds.org.